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Falls Through Floor and Wall Openings

What’s at Stake? A split-second of inattention A slight change in conditions A forgetful co-worker A lax safety program Injuries, head trauma, disability Family/friends left to cope w/out you Forget the cover – lifetime of guilt What’s at Stake? It takes a split-second of inattention, a slight change in working conditions, a forgetful co-worker, or a lax safety program for you to fall through an opening. Painful injuries, head trauma, and disability are all possible outcomes of surviving a fall. If you don’t survive your family and friends are left to cope without you. If you are the forgetful co-worker who didn’t put the cover back on the floor or wall opening, you will have a lifetime of guilt if someone falls to their death.

What’s the Danger? All types of floor and wall openings are dangerous if not properly covered; a fall through any of them can lead to disabling injuries and death. Example: A construction worker unknowingly entered a room with an unprotected floor opening and fell 14ft/4.2m, landing on a piece of steel. He died from his injuries. What’s the Danger? All types of floor and wall openings and are dangerous if not properly covered; a fall through any of them can lead to disabling injuries and death. Example A construction worker unknowingly entered a room with an unprotected floor opening and fell 14ft/4.2m, landing on a piece of steel. He died from his injuries.

How to Protect Yourself Barricade or securely cover openings Guardrails must be standard height Barricades must remain until opening is closed Covers must be solid material that can support load Many fatalities have occurred when someone fell through a foam board, roofing paper, or cardboard Covers must be secured and not easily removed How to Protect Yourself Here are six ways to protect yourself and others from falls: 1. Barricade openings with guardrails or securely cover them so no one can step into them. Guardrails must be installed to standard heights. Barricades must remain until the opening is closed. 2. Covers for openings must be made of solid material that can support any load. Many fatalities have occurred when someone fell through a foam board, roofing paper, or cardboard. 3. Covers must be secured so they can't be easily removed. A loose sheet of plywood placed over a floor opening has led to many fatal falls.

How to Protect Yourself Covers must go entirely over openings without guardrails Hole covers must be colored or marked as “HOLE” or “COVER” Report uncovered openings ASAP Covers should entirely go over openings without guardrails. If the cover doesn't cover the entire opening, you could step on it and the cover could break or tip into the hole – taking you with it. Hole covers must be colored or marked as “HOLE” or “COVER”. Without the markings, someone could accidently remove a piece of plywood, and leave the hole unprotected. Report any uncovered openings to your supervisor. If you can properly cover it – do so immediately. If you can’t, wait by the hole and warn others until it’s covered.

Final Word Falls through openings are unnecessary tragedies. Always secure, guard and/or cover these deathtraps. Final Word Falls through openings are unnecessary tragedies. Always secure, guard and/or cover these deathtraps.